In the Shadows

Chapter 4

Twenty-Five

He could hear his heart pounding in his ears. Severus stood still in the circle watching and listening. A cool wind blew through the circle tickling his senses. He could feel his every nerve vibrating his skin as anxiety seemed to engulf him at the site of Draco kneeling before the Dark Lord.

Voldemort circled around Draco. The boy remained on his knee with his eyes on the ground. The magic blue light wavered in the breeze casting shadows across Draco's face. Finally, Voldemort stopped in front of him.

"Stand, young Mister Malfoy."

Draco rose to his feet.

Severus felt his anxiety increase to an exploding point. Voldemort always placed the Dark Mark on your arm while you knelt before him. Severus' eyes darted around looking for any movement--there was none. Everyone remained.

"So, Mister Malfoy, you wish to follow your parents' path? You wish to become one of my Death Eaters?"

As Draco stood there something seemed to shift in the night air. Something darkened and deepened in the world surrounding Severus.

"Yes, sir."

Voldemort smiled. Chills traveled up Severus' spine and spread out until it reached his fingertips. Draco did not flinch however, and Severus noted how wise of him and how well controlled he was.

"I am not giving you the mark this evening, Mister Malfoy."

Draco's face looked up at the man as if about to protest, but quickly squelched the urge. Severus, however, did not like the sounds of it. If he was not giving Draco the mark tonight then why have him here under such false pretenses. Searing hot panic flooded Severus.

"Don't fret, Mister Malfoy. You will receive the mark...after you complete a task."

Draco did not react so Voldemort continued.

"Are you willing to complete a task to prove exactly where your loyalties lie?"

"Yes, sir. I am."

"Excellent. It is a simple task." Voldemort began to circle Draco again. "You will bring someone of their own accord with you to receive the Dark Mark as well."

Severus saw Draco's face relax slightly. Severus knew better however--there would be some hitch to it...it was too simple. Little did Severus know that the details would freeze him inside and out.

"Draco?" Voldemort stopped in front of him. "You have until Christmas holiday to kneel before me and receive your Dark Mark with Hermione Granger at your side."

Draco stood before the Dark Lord frozen in shock. At the sound of Hermione's name escaping Voldemort's lips Severus felt his blood freeze as it ran through him and something pull him forward forcing the words out of his mouth.

"No!"

Slowly Voldemort turned his head to look at the person who spoke. The Death Eaters surrounding him seemed to be holding their breath. Draco's eyes frantically searched for the source of the objection. His eyes met a familiar pair of blue eyes. Narcissa tilted her head forward indicating to Draco that he needed to remain facing forward.

"Severus, would you like to explain the reason for your outburst before you pay for such insolence?"

Severus stepped forward and bowed before the Dark Lord.

"Stand up, Severus and explain yourself."

Voldemort stood there watching Severus slowly lift himself from the ground.

"Pardon me, my lord. But she is a mudblood..."

"I know this Severus. However, she will have her uses."

Severus' head snapped up to look the Dark Lord in the face wanting desperately to know what his plan was fully. Something nagged and pulled at him.

"Do NOT underestimate my intelligence, Severus. Miss Granger is one of Potter's sidekicks...she is potentially vital to their defeat."

Voldemort began to circle Severus now. Severus could hear his heart beating faster and throbbing in his ears. His head was filled with visions of the insufferable child...her hand raised in class...curled up in the chair reading...her sleeping form in the chair...fighting with Malfoy...Malfoy having her pinned to the wall...her kneeling on the floor wishing for his safety...

"She can potentially help us with one of two things. Miss Granger could provide vital information to aid the death of the boy...or...well, you remember what it was like to be that young don't you Severus? A woman can be quite enticing, intriguing, inviting even when she is standing in that darkness beckoning you to follow."

Severus felt his breath hitch in his throat and felt something tearing at him and pulling him in several directions as once.

"Lord, she is hardly a woman. She is merely a child..."

The sound of Voldemort's evil cackling laughter resonated through the night air. The sound seemed to travel an unknown distance and bounce back again. Voldemort stopped in front of Severus. The laughter abruptly stopped.

"No, Severus she is not a child any longer. Do tell, are you trying to convince me or yourself of that one?"

Before Severus could protest or answer the question he heard Voldemort's voice again.

"I think you need a bit of reminding as to what it is like to be young, Severus...as to what it is like to be the one in the center of the circle longing for the Dark Mark."

The next thing Severus saw was a blue light shooting toward him and feeling his feet lifting off the ground. He heard no words. The ground rushed back to him knocking the wind out of him. Voldemort stood there looking him up and down before leaning down and lifting him by his arm.

"Enjoy yourself, Severus."

Voldemort shoved him back toward his spot in the circle.

"Severus, all will return to normal when young Mister Malfoy kneels before me to receive the Dark Mark...with Miss Granger at his side."

~*~*~

Hermione sighed as her eyes moved from the words in the book and looked around her. The house was dark and deathly silent. The dimming firelight provided the only light she allowed in the drawing room at the time. Worry creasing her eyebrow, she stood up and walked to the window. Pulling the drapes back slightly, she peered out into the dark streets--empty.

Letting the drapes fall back to their place she walked back to the chair she was curled up in. Picking up the book she sat down and continued to read. The words flowed into her thoughts and through her entire being as she read...they caressed her...enticed her...lulling her into calmness...until slowly the words rocked her into a dream filled sleep...

Draco followed Severus back into Number Twelve. It was dark and silent. Swiftly Severus descended the stairs and paused at the sight in the drawing room. Hermione lay asleep in the chair again. Voldemort's words seemed to echo in his memory.

And the Dark Lord refers to this as a woman?

A snort of amusement was barely heard before he began his brooding walk down the hall to his room.

Draco's pace slowed as he noticed what Snape was looking at. He seemed to freeze in the shadows as he watched her sleep. She was not exactly an innocent child, but in terms of what she was potentially faced with on the Dark side, she was. Draco started to wonder if he could accomplish his task. Part of him immediately replied no...but then another part recognized this as his only way in.

"Mister Malfoy. I suggest you get what sleep you can before breakfast."

Severus watched from his open bedroom door as Draco started at the sound of his voice. The young boy nodded his head in understanding and walked into his room and shut the door quietly.

Severus remained in his doorway with his arms crossed over his chest as Draco shut the door. His eyes drifted from Draco's door down the hall to the open door of the drawing room. Closing his eyes he let out a slow breath. The night's events were beyond anything he had imagined. Shutting his own door, Severus stepped across the hall to the room with the mirror. Quietly he shut the door behind him and uncovered the mirror in the dark.

The dark blue covering framed the mirror and dipped down over it in one corner. His eyes quickly scanned over the forms in front him. He knew the mirror did not tell the future, but only showed your heart's desire--a reflection of those inner most thoughts. Severus couldn't help it though--his mind turned in circles hoping to find some sign hidden within the image...something that could slip through the cracks of time and hint at what is to come. His eyes roamed again and again over the girl at his side. Stepping even closer to the image he reached out and touched it. How he hated that mirror! Sitting down where he stood his eyes continued to roam over every inch of the girl looking...searching...wanting nothing but to find a wrinkle in time--a simple clue.

~*~*~

The muffled sound of shuffling movement stirred Hermione from her sleep. She was thankful for the disruption of sleep--haunting images tormented her. Wrapped up in a blanket she slowly lifted her head toward the sound. Harry sat on a sofa near the fire place. The lights were out in the drawing room. The only light came from the fireplace Harry stared into. Hermione noticed how prominent the dark circles were under his eyes in this light...his deep emerald eyes seemed to have darkened and become haunted. Slowly Hermione sat up.

"I'm scared, Hermione."

Harry didn't even turn around to look at her, to make sure it was her that was shuffling about silently. Hermione closed her eyes in pain of her friend's admission.

"Harry?"

He turned to look at her and she could see it in his eyes. Realizing how revealing his emotions were at that moment, Harry turned back to the fire.

"How many will I lose? How many people in my life will be lost before this is all over with Voldemort?"

Hermione watched as his face fell into his hands. Keeping the blanket wrapped around herself, Hermione stood up and walked over to where Harry sat. Sitting next to him she placed her fingers under his chin and turned his head to look at her.

"Harry this line of thought does you no good."

There was sternness to her voice yet it radiated a compassion and empathy Harry always found in her.

"Hermione do you even realize the danger you and Ron are in from Voldemort is more than doubled just from befriending me? Slowly, he has taken person after person from my life...how will I fight him if I have no one left?"

Hermione's hand rested on his cheek.

"Oh Harry."

Reaching over she hugged him tightly pulling him further to her as she sat back on the sofa. There were nights like these when he needed more of a tough love approach and Hermione could always recognize it. Those were the nights she told him the world didn't revolve around him and to stop thinking of himself and realize there was a whole world of people who saw him as their only hope. This was not one of those nights though. This was one of the nights he needed to let it out...to stop bottling it up...he needed the tender kind hearted Hermione.

Running her hand through his hair to try to sooth and calm him, he laid his head in her lap as the tears poured from his eyes. Slowly the tears became nothing but stained tracks upon his cheeks as his arms remained wrapped around her waist holding her as if she were his anchor...his life jacket.

~*~*~

Severus stood before the mirror still. His arms crossed over his chest he listened to the Headmaster explain what will be done with Severus' new complication. So far he was not liking it.

"I will NOT teach any classes looking like this."

Dumbledore looked at him and smiled.

"Severus there is nothing wrong with your appearance. You will teach classes or you are free to leave whenever you wish..."

"Fine."

With a smile Dumbledore exited the room.

Tossing the covering back on the mirror, Snape left the room feeling the pounding headache from his talk with Dumbledore. Before he could enter his own room he heard a sound...as if someone was moving about in the drawing room. He knew Hermione was sleeping in there and for some reason he felt the need to go look in on her...better safe than sorry. Slowly and quietly he made his way to the door. Peering into the room from the shadows he saw Hermione was not in the chair anymore. Alarms seemed to ring in his head. Before he could do anything he heard her stern voice.

"Harry this line of thought does you no good."

Creeping across the doorway he remained in the shadows of the hall, but now had a view of the sofa she sat on with Harry. Snape remained watching the two students.

Just in case they try anything.

Watching, he felt a burning sensation run through him. A surge of emotion seemed to overwhelm him at the moment--hate. He hated James Potter and now his son was nothing but another James Potter.

How can she put up with his sniveling?

Taking one last look at Hermione soothing Harry, he pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on and went straight to his room without a second glance back. With a quiet click of his door, Snape cut himself off from anything Gryffindor coming from the drawing room.

~*~*~

Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace with her packages and rushed up the stairs excited to pack for their departure back to Hogwarts the next day. The boys watched her and just shook their heads.

"Hermione dear! Don't run off. Lunch is about ready."

Mrs. Weasley had emerged from the kitchen just in time to see Hermione's back end disappear up the stairs at great speed.

"I'll be right down."

Satisfied, Mrs. Weasley headed toward the kitchen telling the others to follow.

While they ate, Hermione peered out from behind her book enough to notice that Snape's seat was vacant still. Crinkling her forehead she wondered if she should be worried. She waited up as long as she could the night before, but fell asleep and never saw when he returned. Glancing at the seat next to the vacancy she noticed Harry still looked a bit haunted with dark circles. Her eyes shifted back to the empty seat. Suddenly she felt someone's foot gently rub up against hers. With a sudden intake of breath her attention tore from the seat and looked across from her at Harry. He was only trying to get her attention...he knew what she was wondering so he answered her with a shrug. He didn't know where Snape was either.

The rest of the table was alive with laughter and talk or just silent chewing. No one was aware of the exchange between Hermione and Harry about Snape. Then, Mrs. Weasley made an announcement.

"Before dinner Professor Dumbledore will be arriving." She looked at the younger occupants. "There will be a meeting involving you five so I expect you all to be in the drawing room at precisely five o'clock. We will eat afterwards."

They all nodded their heads in understanding. Hermione's head began reeling though. Something was definitely up.

"Oh, Hermione...being as you are done eating could you be a dear and take this tray of food up to Professor Snape's room?"

Nodding her head she placed a book mark in her book and sat it on the table. Taking the tray she headed out of the room and up the stairs glad she would get to check on Professor Snape herself.

Standing outside his door she felt her palms begin to sweat and her heart pound.

This is ridiculous. It is only Professor Snape.

Balancing the tray she knocked on the door and waited. The voice sounded strange, but it was definitely Snape's.

"Enter."

Hermione opened the door and entered the room. The shades were drawn not allowing any daylight to escape into the dark room. Snape sat in a chair and did not turn around immediately. He only pointed to his desk for her to place the tray. Sitting the tray down as quietly and carefully as possible Hermione hoped he could not sense her unexplained nervousness. Turning around from the tray to leave she got a look at Professor Snape. His face was in a scowl as he sat brooding. Hermione stood frozen to the spot.

Is THIS Professor Snape?

His scowl deepened at Hermione's sudden shocked state.

"What is it, Miss Granger?"

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, what she didn't know, and nothing came out. She closed her mouth and just looked at the man sitting before her. It was Snape, no doubt about that...it was just Snape's appearance seemed to have been altered. She stood frozen, looking into the scowling, angst ridden eyes of a twenty-five year old Severus Snape.